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North Point Volvo in Georgia. If your dealer calls Volvo tech support I am sure they will know. Standard answer now seems to be remove pads look for damage, if no damage reinstall pads and this is now "normal".
 
So it has been about 3 wheels since the brakes last stuck and I have had the car back over 2 weeks and put maybe 200 miles on the car since then. I went to wash the car and the rotors aligned in a way that I saw this on the back right rotor. How can I be the only one getting this? And what was Volvo thinking with this brake design?


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So it has been about 3 wheels since the brakes last stuck and I have had the car back over 2 weeks and put maybe 200 miles on the car since then. I went to wash the car and the rotors aligned in a way that I saw this on the back right rotor. How can I be the only one getting this? And what was Volvo thinking with this brake design?


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What I’m seeing in that pic looks fairly normal TBH...I mean rotors will get a light coating of rust on them as they have no way to protect them (it is a friction/wear surface). That mark is where the car was parked with the brake pad against the rotor. Yeah, not good if the pad material is getting stuck to the rotors as you previously had, but I don’t think anything in this specific pic is a cause for concern (unless I’m missing something). TBH I haven’t washed ours yet (only had for 3 weeks...but it’s due for a wash). I’ll be watching what happens!
 
Rust yes, but I have never had marks on rotors from the brakes.
 
Wife drove the car for 5 hours in torrential rain. It will of sat for a day before I drive it.

Any bets on rust or no rust when I try it tonight.
Ack this feels like tempting fate!!!
 
I know, everyone is tired of my updates. I picked up my car. They upgraded to 1.7, the range app and XM are welcome additions. Actually met the Volvo regional rep who wanted to chat with me. HE offered to swap my car at some point if I am not happy. I told him thanks, but unless the brakes were different no reason. I did bring my ceramic pads with me and dealer confirmed they would fit the car. Service manager said he would work with me if it happens again. I made sure Volvo rep know I had met all the lemon law requirements, but really like the car. He wants to be involved even if I elect for a buy back. Told him at some point if no other issues other than brakes I will need to gamble and lose Volvo support on them and go with the ceramic pads.




Looks like I ordered mine from Walmart just in time. For $44 I will sit on them for now.


I mentioned this before, I have owned a lot of cars and dealt with a few manufacturers and Volvo has been the best for customer service. My love hate with the car is back to love right now as this thing is great. I still may put a Q4 on order as a backup plan. Oddly if the P8 will just stop being a pain the wife and I would love to get a second one.
Your updates are monumental to many Owners ! It’s unfortunate you’ve had to deal with it for months - Your experiences, feedback from Dealers provide so much insights for other owners to be mindful of. I’ll be curious what your ultimate decisions are in time to come….keep it….exchange it…go
to Audi…
Your car and mine had those brake issues about the same time, mine being towed from work to Dealer, they replaced the pads and rotors……since then, been driving in rain and washes, no repeat. Yesterday after a good wash, drove into garage, next morning….a mini-mini soft “clunk”, a familiar sound …but all good…..NOW……should there be ice and tons of slushes in DFW in months to come coupled with foreseeable several work from home days, I DO wonder how the brakes will react then….time will tell…
 
After 5 hours in driving rain and then a day sitting in the garage. No grinding or even the brushing sound of light contact. A light dusting of rust but that is no matter.

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I still don’t understand how your brakes are that clean. Mine always have traces of rust on them.
 
There are traces of rust this time as I have not cleaned the car for a bit (not my choice).

After a wash they are perfect. Have not done any real breaking either and neither did spouse2.

Was surprised there was not even light grinding (brush sound) today.
 
SeattleCat I have markings like you on the rear break rotors. Mine looks very much like yours on the clean side. It`s been raining for the last 4 days.
 
SeattleCat I have markings like you on the rear break rotors. Mine looks very much like yours on the clean side. It`s been raining for the last 4 days.
To be clear I think my rotors look next to perfect. Was not complaining :)

Sounds like you are break problem free as well. When do you get snow down there? Cannot wait to play in the snow in the car :)
 
So it has been about 3 wheels since the brakes last stuck and I have had the car back over 2 weeks and put maybe 200 miles on the car since then. I went to wash the car and the rotors aligned in a way that I saw this on the back right rotor. How can I be the only one getting this? And what was Volvo thinking with this brake design?


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Hey @He Keith - just wanted to say thanks for your postings and updates about this. To be honest, I was actually in the camp of thinking it was something specific to your car or your washing technique up until last night. We have had some slight sticking in the past (over about 4000 miles of driving), but nothing too concerning. Over the weekend we received a substantial amount of rain which we drove in for 20-30 miles. The car was then parked for about 48 hours until I left last night. When pulling out of the garage, I heard the clunk of the brakes as they broke free (which required more power than in the past), but then as I drove I heard something rubbing on each wheel rotation. It was most noticeable when the car was applying any brake pressure (which it does under one pedal regen as well as braking with the pedal), and it mostly/completely went away after about 10 miles of driving, so I'm assuming whatever stuck on residue/pad was knocked off. My rear rotors also look similar to yours in this photo, but with a less noticeable imprint. I made an audio recording of it as I drove in case I need it in the future, but I'm not planning to pursue anything quite yet (I could reproduce it easily using what you mentioned before of spraying rotors then parking for 2-4 days). I'm hoping someone from Volvo has been trying to get to the bottom of this based on your experiences.
 
Hey @He Keith - just wanted to say thanks for your postings and updates about this. To be honest, I was actually in the camp of thinking it was something specific to your car or your washing technique up until last night. We have had some slight sticking in the past (over about 4000 miles of driving), but nothing too concerning. Over the weekend we received a substantial amount of rain which we drove in for 20-30 miles. The car was then parked for about 48 hours until I left last night. When pulling out of the garage, I heard the clunk of the brakes as they broke free (which required more power than in the past), but then as I drove I heard something rubbing on each wheel rotation. It was most noticeable when the car was applying any brake pressure (which it does under one pedal regen as well as braking with the pedal), and it mostly/completely went away after about 10 miles of driving, so I'm assuming whatever stuck on residue/pad was knocked off. My rear rotors also look similar to yours in this photo, but with a less noticeable imprint. I made an audio recording of it as I drove in case I need it in the future, but I'm not planning to pursue anything quite yet (I could reproduce it easily using what you mentioned before of spraying rotors then parking for 2-4 days). I'm hoping someone from Volvo has been trying to get to the bottom of this based on your experiences.

Willing to bet that rubbing is pad material. That should trigger the dealer to replace your pads and rotors. My dealer said any time there is the rubbing/grinding bring it in as that usually indicated the pads material separated.
 
Hey @He Keith - just wanted to say thanks for your postings and updates about this. To be honest, I was actually in the camp of thinking it was something specific to your car or your washing technique up until last night. We have had some slight sticking in the past (over about 4000 miles of driving), but nothing too concerning. Over the weekend we received a substantial amount of rain which we drove in for 20-30 miles. The car was then parked for about 48 hours until I left last night. When pulling out of the garage, I heard the clunk of the brakes as they broke free (which required more power than in the past), but then as I drove I heard something rubbing on each wheel rotation. It was most noticeable when the car was applying any brake pressure (which it does under one pedal regen as well as braking with the pedal), and it mostly/completely went away after about 10 miles of driving, so I'm assuming whatever stuck on residue/pad was knocked off. My rear rotors also look similar to yours in this photo, but with a less noticeable imprint. I made an audio recording of it as I drove in case I need it in the future, but I'm not planning to pursue anything quite yet (I could reproduce it easily using what you mentioned before of spraying rotors then parking for 2-4 days). I'm hoping someone from Volvo has been trying to get to the bottom of this based on your experiences.
Whenever I hear the words "brakes"..."rotors"...."clunks"..."thudding"...."squatting effort to break free" ...the word "SAFETY" jumps out. At this point, there should be a Recall before more cars are rolled out. We don't even hear remotely the level of complains/observations regarding this topic vs. "safety belt" and yet I get pinged on Safety Belt recall from every corner. Anything brakes related should be just as crucial. Hoping VC is listening and working on solutions.
 
Whenever I hear the words "brakes"..."rotors"...."clunks"..."thudding"...."squatting effort to break free" ...the word "SAFETY" jumps out. At this point, there should be a Recall before more cars are rolled out. We don't even hear remotely the level of complains/observations regarding this topic vs. "safety belt" and yet I get pinged on Safety Belt recall from every corner. Anything brakes related should be just as crucial. Hoping VC is listening and working on solutions.
It probably deserves its own thread, but speaking of safety. The xc40 only managed an acceptable in the new iihs side impact test. Looks like the base of the b pillar pushed in quite a bit.
 
I did post a link somewhere on this forum with the NHTSA complaint form to mention potential safety defects. I fully agree and if there is grinding there is no way to know how impacted the brakes are. I am waiting to have the grinding again, I just have to wet the care, park it 3-4 days and it will likely dislodge pad material just like it did for @imdunne8
When it does that I will bring my pads to the dealer so he can put new rotors on with my new pads. I suspect that will be the end of it then. People need to complain and take the car to the dealer when they experience this. Sooner or later Volvo will issue new formula pads. If the IHU bugs settle down I will be happy keeping the car and use my own pads. If I do get the C40 I will have them put my pads on day 1 to avoid all this BS.
 
It probably deserves its own thread, but speaking of safety. The xc40 only managed an acceptable in the new iihs side impact test. Looks like the base of the b pillar pushed in quite a bit.
The electric version has a significantly different (bottom) structure from the ICE versions, to house the battery, and is similar to the Polestar 2 unsurprisingly.
 
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